L’Aire Marine Éducative d’Esnandes : on s’en fait un film !
Objectives of the project
L’Aire Marine Éducative d’Esnandes: on s’en fait un film ! aimed to help CM2 pupils become active stewards of the Esnandes Marine Educational Area, located at Pointe Saint-Clément in the Bay of Aiguillon, France.
The project focused on biodiversity, coastal habitats, blue carbon, climate change, and the ecological importance of protected coastal environments. It also aimed to combine environmental education, scientific inquiry, citizenship, and digital media by involving pupils in the creation of a documentary about their Marine Educational Area.
Activities
Pupils managed their Marine Educational Area through a participatory approach, including field visits, outdoor investigations, and observation of coastal habitats, fauna, flora, and environmental changes.
They organised Marine Council meetings, defined the limits of their Marine Educational Area, discussed conservation issues, and took part in beach litter surveys and clean-up activities.
The project also included scientific workshops with environmental experts, including sessions on Blue Carbon, salt marshes, climate regulation, carbon storage, and Carbon-14 dating.
A major activity was the production of a documentary with the support of filmmaker Fred Febvre. Pupils prepared interview questions, filmed outdoor sequences, recorded voice-overs, and helped shape the messages they wanted to share.
Expected outputs
The project produced a documentary film presenting the Esnandes Marine Educational Area and its ecological importance.
Other outputs included original video footage, drone images, scientific observation notebooks, educational presentations on biodiversity, Blue Carbon and coastal ecosystems, and communication materials used during Marine Council and school events.
The school also acquired a digital video camera, which will continue to support future Marine Educational Area classes and other environmental education projects.
Impact
The project directly involved 23 CM2 pupils in field investigations, scientific workshops, Marine Council meetings, filming sessions, and documentary production.
It helped pupils develop practical, collaborative, communication, scientific, and digital skills while deepening their understanding of their local coastal heritage and protected ecosystems.
The wider school community was also reached through presentations, discussions, and school communication, allowing around 100 pupils to discover the Marine Educational Area and its objectives.
The project strengthened cooperation with local stakeholders, including OFB, the National Nature Reserve of the Bay of Aiguillon, LPO, scientists, the municipality, families, and local environmental actors. It also created resources that can support future Marine Educational Area classes and inspire other schools interested in similar sustainability projects.
